Septic tank.



X. CAVE-HNO.

SEPTIC TANK.

APPLICATIUN FILED mm2?. |914.

Snom/Lto@ 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Aug 3, 1915.

X. CAVI-IR N0.

SEPTIC TANK.

APPLlcATIoN. -FlLED APR. 21. 1914.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

XENOPHON CAVERNO, 0F KEWANEE, ILLINOIS.

SEPTIC TANK.

Specification of Letters Batent.

Application filed April 27, 1914. Serial No. 834,615.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, XENOPHON CAvERNo, a citizen of the Unitedv States, residing at Kewanee, county of Henry, and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Septic Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in septic tanks with especial reference to the structure andl cooperative arrangement of the inlet and outlet members.

The object of my invention is to provide inlet and outlet members which are adapted to be constructed in a shop or factory, shipped to the point of use, and set up in a mold as a single `unit or set of units having a fixed relationy to each other, and a necessary relation to the walls of the tank, whereby inexperienced persons may construct tank walls or molds for tank Walls and fill them with concrete without danger of errors, such as would interfere with or prevent the tank requires an inlet adapted for delivery of sewage to the tank with a minimum of agitaton'and under conditions which provide for a maximum distance of travel in the tank before reaching the outlet, and that both the inlet and the outlet should be located below the surface of the liquid and above the bottom of the tank to avoid interference with the accumulated sludge on the bottom, or with the scuml at the top. The

usual practice has therefore been to provide an inlet at one end of an elongated tank andan outlet at the other end, each being located at an intermediate point, between the bottom and the top of the tank. My improved construction, however, contemplates the location of both the inlet and the outlet in what would be called the rear end portion of the-tank. y

It is also my object to provide means for securing an intermittent delivery of the eliuent by providing an outlet chamber into which the effluent passes from the tank proper and from which it is discharged to lthe exterior filter beds.

In the drawings-F igure .l isa longitudinal sectional view of a septlc tank embodying my invention, drawn to a plane cutting the Siphon and outlet ducts axially. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, drawn on line of Fig. 1. Fig. 3-is a plan view with the cap or top wall partially broken away: Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a mold s howmgthe outer wall of the mold, i. e. the earth ad]acent to the excavation, in section, andl showing the metallic members or units as they are assembled with reference to the inner wall of the mold preparatory to the insertion of the concrete filling which is to form the wall of the completed tank.

Like parts are identified by the same reference-letters throughout the several views.

The tank is preferably formed of concrete, with bottom A, front end wall B, side wall C and cap- D, all formed integrally or afs nearly so as possible. The lower portion E of,the rear walll may be also formed of concrete and the upper portion comprises a metallic member having the form of a rectangular box with front and rear walls e, e', and "with its end walls embedded inthe 'side ,walls C, C, of the tank. The wall e of this metallic member is provided with a long1tud1nal slot F near its lower margin, and the wall e is provided witha similar slot F near its upp'er margin, said member thus providlng a passage,'the inlet to which is the slot F and which leads upwardly between the walls e, ef' to the outlet or overflow slot F.

The portion E of the rear wall of the tank is thickened and extended rearwardly from its upper margin to form a floor G for an outlet chamber, the walls C being extended to form the sides of this outlet chamber and thecap D being similarly extended to form the top.' The rear wall completes the inclosure, forming an outlet cavity g within which a siphon bell H is located in a posi- Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

tion covering the upwardly projecting-end 1 of an outlet duct H', the initial end of which extends down vertically and is formed into a loop at la. which constitutes a trap, the other leg of the loop extending upwardly, preferably in a. substantially vertical direction and connecting with a horizontal pipeh which forms a continuation of the duct and provides for a discharge of the eflluent rearwardly from the structure. A branch pipe it extends from the pipe h upwardly into the over-flow cavity g to a point near thel top of the cavity, and constitutes a vent and overflow. j

The initial leg H of the trap is connected with the rear wall e of the over-flow member bv a clamping bracket I, secured to said rear wall and clamped around the pipe section or trap leg H', whereby the outlet duct tdt lllO

is rigidly connected with the over-How member. A similar clamping bracket J connects the wall e of the over-flow member with 'an elbowed inlet duct K, leading downwardly into the receiving or disposal cavity L of the tank from the sewer main or duct M..' The elbowed member K is provided with a horizontal -leg K through which the sewage is delivered in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, viz: in the direction of the front wall B.

With the above'described construction, it is obvious that all members pertaining to the inletand outlet parts of the tank are integrally connected together in a fixed -relation to the over-How member, which member constitutesithewupper portion of the rear wall. of thereceiving cavity in which the sewage is A' disintegrated. And since this over-flow member is necessarily placed in a fixed relation to the mold preparatory to filling in the concrete, and in fact forms part of the inner wall of the mold, it is ob* vious that all the elements rigidly connected therewith, will necessarily be held in proper position for successful and efficient operation, if so, assembled and secured to the overflow member at the'shop or factorywhere these parts are constructed.v The upper margin of the bracket I determines the level of thefloor G of the over-flow cavity. The lengthv of the over-flow member determines the width of the tank and to a` large extent also determines its depth, sinceiit will be understood that the slot F must be located somewhere near the middle of the space betweenthe top of the liquid in the tank or the top of the tank and-the bottom. The outlet passage being vertical between walls e and e andthe delivery beingupward in this passage, moss or o ther solid matter will not collect therein. The upper level of the liquid in the tank is determined by the position of the slot F. The direction of .delivery of the inflow is determined by the member K of the inlet pipe, as is also the depth below the surface of the liquid at which theinflow is to be delivered. It is therefore impossible to install the metallic inlet and outlet unit above described in any other manner than lthat in which it is illustrated in the drawings and .this insures a delivery of sewage in the direction of the front end B of the vtank without material agitation, the influx being slowly distributed and the solid por `the moss again settles toward the bottom.

This process of Irising and falling continues as the moss is gradually reduced to liquids or substantially free from moss, particui larly in the portion between the bottom of the tank where sludge may be found and the top ofthe liquid in the tank, which will be normally covered by a scum. This clarified central body of liquids near the middle portion of the bridge wall entered the tank through previous deliveries and perhaps at periods several hours or even days in advance of the delivery which causes the discharge, of any given portion through the outlet, but when a discharge of thisclarified liquid or effluent occurs, it passes upwardly in the outlet member tothe over-flow slot F and drops into the'over-fiow chamber (7, where it accumulates until a suliicient depth is attained to start the' Siphon. The liquid will then discharge until the air is admitted to the siphon bell through the duct N. In

this manner an intermittent discharge is permitted, thus -greatly increasing the efiiciencv of the filter bed over that which is secured where a small constant discharge is permitted. By using the Siphon, the filter bed is thoroughly charged with water during the discharge interval, after which the fiow ceases and as the water percolates away through the soil of the filter bed, air is drawn in and the filter bed thoroughly aerated, preparatory to the next discharge.

Itwill be observed that theinlet duct K is provided with an aperture O in the upper wall of the upper elbow which permits the escape of gas and air from the-inlet duct which would otherwise be driven into the liquid of the tank. This would not only increase the agitation of the liquid,'but would aerate it and interfere with the development of anaerobic bacteria in sufficient numbers to disintegrate the sewage. The air and -gas passing through the opening O, together with any other gas or air in the tank, is permitted to pass through an opening P in the wall e into the outlet chamber g, from which chamber it is drawn out through the vent pipe k during the opera-4 t tion of the Siphon. This prevents a development of pressure in the liquefying tank ldue to the inerush of air with the sewage,

which would otherwise force the gases in the top of the liquefying tank through the cracks around the man-hole cover. The openings O and P also permit air to enter the tank and Siphon chamber during the disportion extending substantially at right charge of the siphon to take the place ofthe discharging liquid. lf air were not thus admitted, the discharge of the liquid from the siphon chamber would tend to produce a partial vacuum in such chamber. This would not only interfere with the out-flow of the liquid, but it would also draw water over the bridge wall and lower the level of the sewage in the liquefying tank until the atmospheric pressure in the two chambers equalizes. Such variations in the level of the sewage in the liquefying chamber or tank would be detrimentall to the disintegrating process above described.

ll claiml. As a new article of manufacture, a back wall member for septic tanks, having a passage therethrough and provided with an inlet duct secured to one face thereof and an outlet duct secured, to one face thereof, all in fixed and operative relation each to the other, and adapted for shipment as a septic tank unit designed for assembly with the other portions of a septic tank at the place of use,'substantially as described.

2. A metallic back wall member for septic tanks, comprising a hollow member having its inner side slotted near the lower margin, and its outer side slotted near its upper margin, and having a tankinlet duct secured thereto, and adapted to direct the inflow toward the opposite tank wall.

3. The combination with a hollow. metallic back wall member for septic tanks, provided with an overflow passage, of an inlet duct secured in fixed relation to said back wall lmember by metallic connections, and an outlet duct secured in fixed relation to said back wall member by metallic connections.

4. A septic tank, including the combina tion with tank walls provided with an outlet, of an inlet duct extending through a side wall of the tank at a point above the level of the outlet and provided with a down turned elbowed member, said duct having its upper wall apertured within the tank and above the level ofthe outlet to provide a vent for air and gas; k said duct being also provided with an elbowed delivery portion below the outlet adapted for a horizontal discharge of liquid below the normal level of the liquid in the tank, whereby air and gas may be discharged into the tank above the level of the liquid therein, and liquid may be delivered below such level with minimum disturbance to the contents of the tank 5. An inlet duct for septic tanks compris-y ing a member adapted to extend through a' side walliof the tank and provided with a down turned elbowed member having its upper wall apertured, said duct being also provided with a lower elbow and a delivery angles to both of the other members, in combination with an overflow member secured to the down-turned portion on the opposite side from that in which the inlet extends and in fixed relation to: the inlet duct independently of the tank walls.

6. A metallic unit for septic tanks, comprising an inlet member, an overflow member and an outlet member, secured together independently of the other portions of the tank, and held in fixed relation to each other by the securing means, whereby said unit may be assembled in one place and shipped to another place for assembly with the other members of a septic tank.

7. A metallic unit for septic tanks, comprising an inlet member, an overflow member and an outlet melnber, secured together independently of the other portions of the tank, and held in fixed relation to each other 85 bythe securing means, whereby said unit may be assembled in one place and shipped to another place for assembly with the other. members of a septic tank, said inlet member and overflow member being adapted to de liver fluid in opposite directions and said inlet memberlbeing adapted for delivery at a lower level than the outlet member.

h 8. A septic tank comprising the combination with side and bottom walls, of an end wall comprising a concrete lower portion surmounted by a hollow metallic member having its ends embedded in the side walls, the inner face of said metallic member being slotted near its lower margin along a 10u line substantially midway between the top and bottom of the liquid containing portion of the tank and having its outer face provided with an outlet slot near its upper margin; said slots, together with the hollow 105 interior of the metallic member forming an upwardly extending outlet passage having a horizontal inlet at its lower end adapted to receive liquid from the middle portion of the tank with minimum disturbance to the 11u top and bottom portions thereof.

9. A septic tank comprising the combination with side and bottom walls, of an end wall having a. concrete lower portion surmounted by a hollow metallic member hav- 115 ing its ends embedded in the side walls, and having its inner face slotted near the lower margin and its outer face slotted near its upper margin and forming, with the hollow interior, an upwardly extending' over- 120 flow passage, said concrete portion of the back wall being extended rearwardly from its upper margin and provided with raised side and end walls, constituting an auxiliary chamber to receive the effluent from Asaid 125 overflow passage, said auxiliary chamber being provided with an outlet.

10. A septic tank comprising' the combination with side and bottom walls, of an end wall having a concrete lower portion sur- 130 mounted by a hollow metallic member having its end embedded in the side walls, and having its inner face slotted near the lower margin and its outer face slotted near its upper margin and forming, with the hollow interior, an upwardly extending overflow passage, said concrete portion of the back wall being extended rearwardly from its upper margin and provided with raised side and end walls, constituting an auxiliary chamber to receive `the efliuent from said overflow passage, said auxiliary chamber being provided with a4 metallic outletlduct including a siphon and a trap and .permanently connected in fixed relation tothe hollow metallic back wall member.

11. A-V septic'tank having a -receiving chamber and an efliuent chamber of less depth, each of said chambers being provided with concrete walls, in` combination withla metallic hollow overflow partition between said chambers, an inlet duct in the receiving chamber clamped to said partition, an outlet duct in the effluent chamber clamped to said partition, a siphon bell covering the receiving end of the outlet duct, and the remaining portions of said' duct being embedded in the concrete walls of said chamber and including a trap and a vent duct projecting from the outlet duct beyond the trap upwardly into the eiiiuent chamber.

12. A septic tank having a receiving chamber and an effiuent chamber of less depth, each of said chambers being provided with concrete walls, in combination with a metallic hollow overfiow partition between said chambers, an inlet duct inthe receiving chamber clamped to said partition, an outlet duct in the eiiuent chamber clamped to said partition, la siphon bell covering the receiving end of the outlet duct, and the remaining portions of said duct being embedded in the concrete walls of said chamber and including a trap and a vent duct projecting from the outlet duct beyond the trap upwardly into the eiuent chamber, said inlet duct and overow partition having apertures in their upper portions through which air and gas may pass to the vent duct.

13.. :A septic tank, having concrete side walls and an outlet member, having marginal ribs'at its respective ends embedded in said side walls and provided with inner and outer wall` plates spaced apart, the inner plate having a slot along its lower margin and the outer plate having a slot near its upper margin, said slots extendin transversely of the tank and communicating with the space between the plates' to provide an outlet passage leading from the middle portion of the end wall, upwardly to the slot in the outer plate.

14. An outlet member. for septic tanks provided with an outlet passage extending upwardly therethrough, said outlet member being provided near its respective ends with means for connecting the walls of a mold to the front and rear faces thereof, the ends of said member being adapted to form projecting portions of the mold wall adapted to be permanently embedded in a plastic filling for such mold.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature p in the presence of two witnesses.

xENoPHoN cavas-No.

Witnesses:

A. W. ERRETT, Jr., F. A. PARKINsoN. 

